amp suggestions to run my components/coax

I need some amp suggestions for my front speakers, and after researching, im still unsure if it would be a good idea to run both of these 4ohm speakers at 2ohms(cheaper and more power?), and exactly how to set the system up to 2ohms if you think its a good idea.. I recently picked up a Kenwood Excelon kdc-x792 deck and installed it in my 95 honda del sol. My factory speakers were blown so I picked up a pair of Focal access 165 A1 6.5 component speakers and threw them in the door panels, They have a "seperated crossover (4.8kHz), 3 levle settings: Real 12/ 12dB/ octave crossover", 92dB sensitivity, Max power= 120W and Nom. power= 60W... Focal 165 A1 Speaker Size     6-1/2" Design     2-way Component System Tweeter Design     Inverted Dome Tweeter Composition     Aluminum Woofer Composition     N/A Woofer Surround     Butyl Rubber Peak Power Handling     120 watts RMS Power Handling     60 watts Sensitivity     92 dB Frequency Response     60 - 20000 Hz ...And I wanted a really clear sound in the cab, so I picked up some rear speakers, which are the Alpine SPR-17C 2-way coaxial 6.5's in some 6.5 boxes behind the seats. Here are the specs for these speakers... Alpine SPR-17c Speaker Size     6-1/2" Design     2-way Coaxial System Tweeter Design     Dome Tweeter Composition     Silk Woofer Composition     Hybrid layered-pulp Woofer Surround     Rubber Peak Power Handling     300 watts RMS Power Handling     100 watts Sensitivity     87 dB Frequency Response     65 - 27000 Hz Impedance (per voice coil)     4 ohms Top Mount Depth     2-5/16" (59mm) Bottom-mount depth     3-5/16" (84.9mm) Cutout Dimensions     N/A I re-wired the speaker wires with high quality o2free, twisted and double insulated wires to the Kenwood receiver and then tuned the receiver. My problem now is that all of the speakers are cutting out or "clipping"(i think) above sound levle 26 out of 35. My reciever is 22W RMS and 50 Max... Just so you know, Im running two 12" sony xplod subs in a sealed box, with a 1600W sony xplod amp.(I know these arent the best quality but I had it laying around in my room, so I installed it) OK back to the speakers and amp selection. The local shops have really been pushing Rockford Fosgate amps for "real clean power" to those front speakers. Does anyone have any other suggestions of a high quality amp to run these front speakers with good power and great sound quality? The amp that Im looking at right now is the Rockford Fosgate Power T400-4. And here are the specs.. Amplifier Specifications Amplifier Class     AB Number of Channels     4 RMS Power (4 ohms)     60 watts x 4 channels RMS Power (2 ohms)     100 watts x 4 channels RMS Power (1 ohm)     N/A Bridged RMS Power     200 watts x 2 channels Total RMS Power Output     400 watts Peak Power Output     800 watts x 4 channels Total Peak Power Output     3200 watts Minimum Impedance Unbridged     2 ohms Minimum Impedance Bridged     2 ohms THD at Rated RMS Power     .5% Speaker Level Inputs     No Preamp Outputs     1 pair Built-in Crossover     Low-pass (LP) High-pass (HP) Full (AP) High-Pass Crossover Frequency     50 - 500 Hz Low-Pass Crossover Frequency     50 - 500 Hz Subsonic Filter     N/A Signal-to-Noise Ratio     85 dB Channel Separation     N/A Bass Boost     0 - 18 dB Bass/Gain Remote     Optional (Accessory required and sold separately) Rockford Fosgate PEQ Fan Cooled     Dynamic Thermal Management Fuse Rating     100A I have never built a really clear sounding system before, sure I have had subs and amps for those subs, but I haven't ever needed an amp to run my in-cab speakers. If you think this amp is a good choice at $290, would you run it at 4ohms or 2ohms? If you suggest running this or a different amp at 2ohms, I understand how to wire the speakers parallel from a 2 channel amp like described on "the12volt.com" and as shown on " http://www.bcae1.com/spkrmlti.htm ". But I don't understand how to do this on a 4 channel amp. Any suggestions on different clean amps 2 channel or 4 channel, and how to wire them for the best sound quality?

FIRST OFF, DON'T BUY THE FOCALS, unless you LIKE the bright, hashy, spitty sound of metal dome tweeters. Secondly, DON'T BUY THE ROCKFORD AMP, unless you LIKE the bright, hashy, spitty sound of Rockford Fosgate high-frequency reproduction. That being said, the two of them together will be unlistenable. Both of these products have ALWAYS sounded like this to me, and I am not the only one here that will stand by that statement, ESPECIALLY for the Focals. (Not just Focals, truth be known, but ALL metal domes. GAH!) A FAR better suggestion: The JL silk dome stuff, on an Alpine PDX4.100 or 4.150 amplifier. Another good choice for amplifier power: Something from the Eclipse premium line, the XA4200 for a 4 channel solution (NOT the EA stuff) Last point: If you have 4 ohm speakers, you can't turn them into 2 ohm speakers. That's just what they are - 4 ohms. You will select your amplifier based on the desired 4 ohm output desired.It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I concur. If it came from my shop I would use an ARC amplifier or use the MTX Thunder Elite amplifier for the speakers. Use the 5v preouts to the max by setting your gains all the way down on the amplifier. Pick an amplifier that has an output of 60-75 watts RMS.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA